Some Popular Catholic Myths Part 4

The Church is against Science

Really?  Tell that to Monseigneur Georges Henri Joseph Édouard Lemaître, the Catholic Priest who first proposed the Big Bang Theory.  We must remember that it was the Catholic Church that founded the first University system.  The Church is also responsible for the first hospitals. 

Since the Middle Ages, Catholics – clergy and laity - have been responsible for some of history’s most significant scientific contributions, such as:

• William of Ockham (c.1288–c.1348) – Franciscan Friar known for the mathematical principle, Ockham's Razor
• Thomas Bradwardine (c.1290–1349) – Archbishop and one of the discoverers of the Mean Speed Theorem.
• Jean Buridan (c.1300–after 1358) – French priest who developed the Theory of Impetus.
• Nicole Oresme (c.1320–1382) – 14th century bishop who theorized the daily rotation of the earth on its axis differentiation, the concept of infinity, and the Binomial Theorem.
• Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543) – First person to formulate a comprehensive heliocentric Cosmology.
• Christopher Clavius (1538–1612) – Jesuit who was the main architect of the Gregorian Clendar.
• Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) – Father of Modern Science
• Francesco Lana de Terzi (1631–1687) – Jesuit priest who has been called the Father of Aeronautics.
• Jean Picard (1620–1682) – French priest and Father of Modern Astronomy in France
• Louis Pasteur (1822–1895) – Father of Bacteriology.
• Mary Celine Fasenmyer (1906–1996) – Roman Catholic sister and mathematician, founder of Sister Celine's Polynomials.
• Gerty Cori (1896–1957) – Biochemist who was the first American woman to win a Nobel Prize in science (1947)  

All Non-Catholics are going to Hell
Not according to the Catechism:  847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.The bottom line is that we are saved by God’s grace alone.  However, we are saved through His Church.  As the Catechism states, those who are ignorant of Gospel and the Church may also be saved.  We leave such souls to the mercy of God.

Some Popular Catholic Myths Part 3

We are Saved by our Works

Not exactly.  The Church teaches – and has always taught that we are saved by God’s grace.  The Scriptures assure us that we as Christians are ALREADY SAVED (Rom. 5:1, 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8).  This is Initial Salvation – God give us the initial grace to believe.

However, because Salvation is a lifelong process – it also says that I am BEING SAVED (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, 7:1, Phil. 2:12, Heb 12:14). This is Ongoing Sanctification – God is sanctifying us throughout our life as we cooperate with his grace.

Because of this, I have the hope that I WILL BE SAVED (Matt. 24:13, Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). This is Final Sanctification/Salvation – We die and go to heaven having endured to the end.

This cooperation and endurance is based on our DOING the will of God (Matt. 7:21-23, Matt. 25:31–46).  Faith is not simply “believing” in God.  James 2:19 states that even the demons believe and tremble.  Our cooperative works are part of our faith – not merely an addendum to it.

The Catholic Church hates homosexuals
On the contrary – the exact opposite is true. While it is true that the Catholic Church condemns the homosexual act, as we read in Scripture (Lev. 18:22, 20:13, Rom. 1:26-7), homosexuals themselves are our fellow human beings deserving of the same dignity that is given to all people.

However, simply because every human is to be respected as a person, this does not mean that we are to condone their sin any more than we would condone the actions of bank robbery or rape or murder.

Catholics believe that sex is only for procreation

That’s not what the Church teaches.

Whereas, the Church does teach that sex is only for those who are married, as does Scripture (Gen 2:24, Acts 15:20, 1 Cor. 5:1, 6:13, 18, 7:1-5, 7:36, 10:8, 2 Cor. 12:21, Gal. 5:19, Eph. 5:3, Heb. 13:4, Col. 3:5, 1 Thess. 4:3, Jude 7) – its purpose is twofold:  It is both Unitive and Procreative. 

As we read in the Catechism: 2366 "This particular doctrine, expounded on numerous occasions by the Magisterium, is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act."¹⁵³

Because the marital act is holy, to be shared only by those who have been indissolubly made “one flesh” in the Lord in matrimony and is a gift from God - it must be open to life as well as being unitive.  Therefore, it is not solely unitive or procreative.

Some Popular Catholic Myths Part 2

Catholics Worship Mary

Nothing could be further from the truth.  This is simply a case of anti-Catholics bearing false witness.

While Latria means worship that is given to God alone - Dulia is theological term signifying the honor paid to the saints.  We honor them because of their earthly examples of faith and endurance as member of the Body of Christ. Hyperdulia is the veneration offered to the Blessed Virgin Mary – who is also a member of the Body of Christ - because of her special role in salvation history as Mother of God.

The word Dulia is from the Greek douleia meaning “slavery”.  Its root word is doulos which means slave - in the sense that we are all slaves of God.  Hyper is defined as “above”, “beyond” or “super”.  When we talk about paying hyperdulia to Mary, it is in this sense that the term is used.  Beyond mere dulia that is paid to the saints in heaven, but not worship.

The Bible Condemns Repetitious Prayer such as the Rosary
Not true.  Despite what our non-Catholic friends may say, the Scriptures do not speak out against repetitious prayers to God.  When Jesus condemned repetitious prayer in Matt. 6:7, he was speaking about the nonsensical babbling of pagans to their gods – not the sincere prayers of the faithful. We read about them in 1 Kings 18:26-29, where the pagan prophets on Mount Carmel tried to invoke Baal all day long, repeatedly calling on his name and performing ritual dances.

In Matt. 26:44, Jesus himself prayed the exact same prayer three times in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper.  In the Parable of the Determined Widow in Luke 18:-87, Jesus emphatically states that God hears those who keep petitioning him in sincere faith:  “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.” In Luke 18:13, the tax collector kept beating his breast and praying, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”  This was pleasing to God.

In Rev. 4:8 the angels pray the same prayer day and night in the presence of almighty God, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.”  Psalm 136 goes on for 26 verses in a row, repeating the exact same prayer, “God's love endures forever”.  Similarly, in Dan. 3:56-88 we read the exact same prayer for 32 verses, which is “bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.”  This is far more repetitious than a decade of the Rosary.

Catholic or Christian?

Have you ever heard a non-Catholic tell you, “I’m Christian and you’re Catholic?”

You might be told that since the term, “Christian” is in scripture and “Catholic” isn’t.  This is usually presented as proof that the name “Catholic” came along centuries later, which is not the case.  That’s like asking a man whether he is a man or a human.  The plain fact is that Catholics were the very first Christians.

Believers were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26).  It is interesting to note that the 1^st century bishop of Antioch (St. Ignatius) referred to the “Catholic Church” in a letter to the Smyrnaeans while on the way to his death by martyrdom just a few decades later.  His use of the term makes it clear that the Church was being called the “Catholic Church” for some time.  The word, “Catholic” is derived from the Greek word, katholikos or kath olos, which means, universal or whole.  The Greek manuscripts of Acts 9:31 speak of ekklesia (church) kath olos (catholic). 

The writings of the Early Church Fathers illustrate that they had the very same beliefs that we Catholics of the 21^st century have, including:  the Holy Eucharist, the Real Presence, Sunday worship, the Perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Mother, Infant Baptism, Confession, Church Authority, etc.

Our “Bible-only” friends might also be reminded of the fact that simply because something isn’t explicitly mentioned in Scripture doesn’t mean that it is invalid.  For instance, the word “Trinity” is not explicitly named in the Bible but it is implicitly taught and is an essential belief of the Christian faith.  A list of the books that should be in the Bible is not in the Bible - for that matter, the word “Bible” isn’t in the Bible.  It was the Catholic Church who coined these words and declared the canon of Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-15).  The Catholic Church was founded by Christ and grew under the leadership of the Apostles and their successors who were led to all truth under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-15).  Our non-Catholic friends can only trace their respective denominations back to the 16^th century or later.

Whereas, every single Protestant denomination was started by a fallible human being, the Catholic Church was built by Jesus, the son of God – God himself.

Are we Catholic - or Christian?  We’re both.

All have Sinned – including Mary?

When we speak of the sinlessness and Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother, we sometimes hear the charge that nobody is sinless. After all, we’re told that Romans 3:10, 23 explicitly states: “There is no one righteous, not even one; For there is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.”  Is that so?  How about babies or toddlers below the age of reason? What about those who are mentally challenged and may not have full use of their intellect and will?  What about Jesus?  St. Paul is speaking about those who trust in the Mosaic Law for their salvation.

In this passage, St. Paul is actually quoting Psalm 14, where it says, "The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God. They are corrupt...there is none that does good.’”  Later in the same Psalm, we hear that “God is present in the company of the “righteous.”

St. Paul was using inclusive language.  This would be similar to somebody saying that “everybody in town” came to the carnival last year. He is referring to the mass of mankind but God can and does make exceptions for anybody he wishes. 

When the Angel Gabriel visited Mary, St. Luke - under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - used the Greek word, Kecharitomene, to describe the angel’s greeting of Mary.  Gabriel didn’t call her “Mary”, but “Kecharitomene” (Luke 1:28), which is the perfect passive participle, indicating a completed action with permanent result.  Thus it translates, “completely, perfectly, enduringly endowed with grace.”

In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was the vessel that carried symbols of the word of God. The Ark prefigured Mary, who was the Ark of the New Covenant and actually carried God in her womb.  The first Ark was lined with pure gold and other pure materials and was blessed so as not to be defiled.  It was not even to be touched for penalty of death.  How much more pure and undefiled would Our Blessed Mother have to be to carry God incarnate within her? 

In the Old Testament, Eve (a type of Mary) was created without sin.  Mary is the New Eve and cannot be inferior to her Old Testament types because the New Creation in Christ begins with her.

The New Testament fulfillment is always more glorious than the Old Testament type.

Some Popular Catholic Myths Part I

Chewing the Holy Eucharist is sinful.
This is one of the most popular and widespread myths among Catholics. The Church has never taught that we cannot bite down on the Eucharist.  As a matter of fact, the Greek word used for consuming the Body of Christ in the Bread of Life Discourse in John 6 is “Trogo(n)”.  This word describes the way an animal eats – to “munch or gnaw”.

Many of us were taught that we had to simply allow the host to dissolve in our mouths and never to use our teeth.  This teaching may have been due to the attempt by some to stress the reverence we are to have for the Blessed Sacrament. However, in their zeal to emphasize this reverence, the idea that we are not to chew the Host is simply a rule that the Church has never officially taught.

At Communion, we must receive both the consecrated bread and wine to receive the Body and Blood of Christ.
The fact of the matter is that Jesus is fully present in both species, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.  Whether we receive communion in the form of the Host or the Chalice – we receive the Lord in His fullness.

A person who suffers from a physical aversion to wheat, such as celiac disease might be concerned about consuming the Host.  Others, who might show a similar concern toward the Precious Blood because of a problem with alcohol needn’t worry, either.  They are receiving our Lord in His fullness under either species.

The Pope cannot make mistakes.
The Doctrine of Papal Infallibility applies to the Pope when he makes formal, binding declarations on matters of faith and morals.  The Holy Father is infallible - not impeccable, which would imply that that is to say that he cannot err in other matters.  He can.  Infallibility simply means that he is protected by the Holy Spirit from teaching error on doctrinal or dogmatic matters – when he makes binding declarations on matters of faith and morals.  Jesus promised the Church that the Holy Spirit would guide her to ALL truth (John 16:12-15).

Call No Man Father?

Have you ever heard the charge from non-Catholics that it is an unbiblical practice for us to refer to our priests, “Father”?  Doesn’t Jesus specifically warn against this practice in Matt. 23:9?  What, then, are we to call the man who sired or raised us or the person who taught us in school?

Many people who make this charge do so by side-stepping the truth in an effort to discredit the Church.  What many non-Catholics don’t mention is that Jesus is using hyperbole (exaggeration) to make a point and does so many times in Scripture.  In the verse that precedes this (Matt: 23:8), Jesus tells us not to call people “Teachers”.  Is Jesus telling us that we can’t call certain people "fathers" or “teachers” when they may actually be fathers or teachers?  The answer is a resounding, “No.”  He is telling us that no man is to be considered father above our Father in heaven and no person is to be considered teacher above our Teacher in heaven.  

Jesus was speaking about the Scribes and Pharisees who exalted themselves before all: “They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.”(Matt 23:6-7).

Consider the following passages:

-  Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”  (John 8:56).

-  St. Stephen refers to "our father Abraham," (Acts 7:2).

-  St. Paul speaks of "our father Isaac” (Romans 9:10).

-  For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (1 Cor. 4:14–15).

-  "For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle . . . a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth" (1 Tim. 2:7).

-  "For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher" (2 Tim. 1:11).

-  "God has appointed in the church first Apostles, second prophets, third teachers" (1 Cor. 12:28).

There are but a few of many examples of these words in Scripture that prove the Catholic position.  Our priests are our fathers and teachers in Christ and in no way attempt to usurp God’s authority.

Brethren of the Lord

Non-Catholics sometimes ask why Catholics believe in the perpetual virginity of our Blessed Mother when the Scriptures clearly speak about the “brothers of the Lord” and mention them by name (James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude).

What they won’t speak about is the fact that these so-called “brothers” were probably cousins or some other kinsfolk of Jesus because there was no term for the word “cousin” in the Aramaic language that our Lord spoke.  In the Old Testament, there are many examples of this:

In Gen. 14:14, Lot is called Abraham’s "brother", even though he was the son of Haran, Abraham’s brother (Gen. 11:26–28). 

In Gen. 29:15, Jacob is referred to as the "brother" of his uncle Laban.

Brothers Kish and Eleazar were the sons of Mahli.  Kish had sons of his own, but Eleazar’s daughters married their "brethren," the sons of Kish - who were actually their cousins (1 Chron. 23:21–22).

What do the Scriptures have to say about the women standing at the cross and their children?

Matt. 27:56 says, "among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee".

Mark 15:40 states, "There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome").

Finally, John 19:25 tells us, "But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene".

A comparison of these accounts of the crucifixion shows the mother of James and Joseph to be the wife of Clopas (also called, Alphaeus) – not Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Anti-Catholicism

It has been called “the last accepted prejudice” and is alive and well in our society.  Anti-Catholicism runs amok in the media and there appears to be no end in sight.

The recent scandal in the Church has given them the fodder they need to proliferate their campaign of bias against the Church – and God - for years to come.  Priests are routinely portrayed as either being clueless and out-of-touch with society or as vicious predators, while nuns are portrayed as oppressed victims of a man-centered Church.

Organizations like The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights fight this war on a daily basis.  They inquire and protest against those in the media who attack the Church with anything from blatant, slanderous campaigns to seemingly innocent comments made on sitcoms or other broadcasts. Motion pictures like, Hail Mary, Dogma and the historically inaccurate, The Da Vinci Code are more overtly anti-Catholic in nature.  Other films like The Golden Compass and the recent remake of Robin Hood are presented in a more benign fashion.

Other faiths and belief systems are frequently spared the indignities and disrespect that is usually reserved for the Catholic Church.  For example, in the recent film 2012, the Vatican is completely obliterated by a natural catastrophe.  However, out of respect for Islam – the filmmaker chose not to show the destruction of the Kabba in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) for fear of offending them.

In Matt. 5:11-12, Jesus says: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  However, this does not mean that we are to be doormats in the face of blatant prejudice.  We must always stand up and be ready to defend Christ’s Church because it is his Body (Acts 9:4-5, 1 Cor. 12:4-31).

Neither does it mean that we should be on the attack - being overly-suspicious and paranoid of everybody and everything.  Not all non-Catholics are anti-Catholic. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us, “Always have an answer ready when you are called upon to account for your hope, but give it simply and with respect.” 

Jesus said of the Church: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden” (Matt. 5:14).  “Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me” (Luke 10:16).  As difficult as it is to do sometimes, we must pray for those who hate us and persecute us (Matt. 5:44, Luke 6:27-29).

Jack Chick “Bible Tracts”

Perhaps you’ve seen one of these mini comic book/Bible tracts at a gas station, phone booth or public restroom and wondered who put it there.  The mysterious “JTC” in the bottom corner stands for Jack T. Chick, a virtual recluse, who is the most widely-published comic book author in the world.  Chick is an author and artist who started distributing his comic booklets in the early 1960’s.  His publications are now printed and distributed worldwide in virtually every language.

While he has published volumes about a myriad of subjects including Islam and Atheism, Chick’s favorite target is the Catholic Church.  In his booklets, he blames the Catholic Church for everything from the start of Islam to the Holocaust during WWII.  For those who are well-catechized and even those educated in secular history, Chicks deeply-flawed attacks on the Church seem almost comical.  But, for those who are not so knowledgeable about their faith or history, these so-called “Bible tracts” have been the cause of much confusion and despair over the years and have been the impetus for leading many out Catholics of the Church.

Chick’s anti-Catholicism is extremely blatant and irreverent - and it shows in the titles of some of his tracts.  Titles such as, “The Death Cookie” (an attack on the Eucharist) and “Why Is Mary Crying?” (attacking Marian Doctrines) shake poorly-catechized Catholics to the core.  The back page usually includes the “Sinner’s Prayer” for those wishing to turn from their evil ways (i.e., the Catholic Church) and embrace his particular brand of Christianity.

Chick’s most famous anti-Catholic series (the “Alberto” series) is based on the supposed testimony of an alleged ex-Jesuit Priest named, Alberto Rivera.  In it, he tells of the “horrors” and “secret practices” of the Church throughout the centuries and how it is the instrument of the Devil. He plays fast and loose with historical “facts” yet is unable to provide any proof for his allegations.  Rivera’s exploits have been debunked many times not only Catholic scholars, but by Protestant theologians and scholars as well as prominent secular historians.

As Catholics, it is difficult to read such rubbish without becoming annoyed and even angry. But, we must remember that our Lord Jesus warned that his Church would be hated and attacked (John 15:18-19), but he also gave us the wonderful promise that the gates of hell wouldn’t prevail against it (Matt 16:18).  As the mystical Body of Christ, we shouldn‘t feel the need to be validated by the world because we have God’s loving guarantee.